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Mrs.
Lau, distinguished guests and faculty members, parents and girls
of DGS,
I
am deeply honoured to be invited to address you on your 140th
Anniversary. Your school has produced many pillars of our
society so it is a distinct pleasure for me to be here in this
hall tonight and to look down at so many smiling young faces,
faces of Hong Kong's future. Amongst you I see budding
doctors, lawyers, financial analysts, artists and musicians,
social workers and company executives, politicians and civil
servants - perhaps even the future Chief Secretary or Chief
Executive of Hong Kong.
I share the sentiments of your headmistress, Mrs. Lau, on the
need to face current educational challenges head-on so that our
younger generations are, in her words, 'academically, morally and
spiritually equipped to be the leaders of tomorrow'. I
agree that more needs to be done - and is being done - to improve
the standards of written and spoken English and Chinese across
the entire spectrum of our education system. As you know,
the Education Commission is developing a framework for education
reform to prepare the 'leaders of tomorrow' for the
knowledge-based society of the 21st Century. We
are working towards an education system that complements and
nurtures the inborn curiosity of children for new experiences; a
system in which children will be encouraged to ask questions
rather than being told how to answer them. We hope to
instill in our young people a desire for life-long learning.
Hong Kong's greatest strength has always been its human capital.
We would be letting our children down - and letting Hong Kong
down too - if we did not allow them to develop at their own pace,
to nurture their own strengths and talents, and to make the
entire learning process more enjoyable and beneficial, not only
for the students, but for teachers and parents as well. I
know that these values are very much a part of the teaching ethos
at DGS.
Speech Day is a time honoured tradition. Every year, it
marks the beginning of a new course in the lives of a group of
young people who will soon venture into the wider world. Some
of you will move on to university, or enter the workforce; some
are preparing for final exams later this year; some have just
recently started secondary school. But all of you share a
common bond and that is, you are the product of the fine,
well-rounded education that DGS has given you.
Education extends far beyond the confines of the classroom walls
and the school gate. Education begins the moment you are
born and, if you are willing, continues throughout your life.
It is up to each and every one of you to make the most of the
talents with which you have been blessed, and the opportunities
that lie ahead. Those opportunities are the building blocks
on which you will develop and strengthen your own unique
character.
Treasure the years that you spend at DGS for they are among the
most crucial in preparing you for the many and varied experiences
that await you in adulthood - university, work, travel, marriage,
buying a home, having children, guiding them through life and,
for some at least, sitting with them here in Centenary Hall for
the annual Speech Day.
We are often reminded, in the newspapers or on television, of the
pressures that young people face in modern society. The
world is certainly more complicated and moves at a faster pace
than when I graduated from school more than 40 years ago. But
the guiding principles, the moral compass by which we take our
bearings and set our course, are constant. And if we stick
to them we can deal with the so-called problems of the modern
world because they are, in fact, the same sort of problems that
each generation faces: unrealistic expectations, low self esteem,
a lack of care, support and communication.
I left school in 1956. After University here in Hong
Kong, I joined the Civil Service in 1962. This year marks
my 38th year as a career civil servant. In
parallel I have married, raised a family, seen my children
married and start families of their own. So you see, it is
perfectly possible for a woman to play several different roles
provided you have a sense of balance and proportion and learn to
organize your time.
I have tried to live my life by a few golden rules which I have
developed by trial and error and I would like to share them with
you in the hope that they will guide you through life: First and
foremost, be true to yourself in all that you do. Know who
you are and don't pretend to be anyone else. Develop a
sense of values founded on a clear understanding of the
difference between right and wrong. Conduct yourself with
honour and integrity so that you can be your own best friend.
If you are, then you will be a true friend to those around you.
Remember what Eleanor Roosevelt once said "Nobody can make
you feel inferior without your consent".
Set your goals high, but not so high as to be unattainable.
Know your own capabilities and limitations. Strive always
to do your best, but that does not mean you always have to be the
best. Accept that you will make mistakes, but always try to
learn from them. You will learn more from life's mistakes
than from any text-book.
Pursue your goals with cheer and
vigour. If you stumble, as
you will, pick yourself up and remember what made you stumble.
Look on these mistakes as learning experiences. Remember
that the only mistakes that are unforgivable are those we repeat.
The only challenges that are frightening are those we make no
attempt to meet. Every challenge that you meet and conquer
will boost your confidence and self respect and make you a better
person. Every obstacle that you overcome will provide you
with the stepping stone to reach even higher.
For most of us, life will not be plain sailing. There will
be successes and failures, tears and joy. Don't despair as
you meet the mean and ugly side of life. I have found that
life can be beautiful for those who are willing to find that
beauty and each one of you can add to that beauty through your
talent, care and commitment.
Finally be generous in all things but mostly in sharing your joy
with your loved ones. In times of trouble look first to
your family for guidance and support; in times of joy, turn first
to them to share the moment. A loving and caring family is
by far the greatest treasure one could hope for in life. But
all too often it is taken for granted. Like any living
thing it requires careful nurturing. In today's hectic
world, setting aside time for the family is not easy but you will
find that time spent together is worth more than all the gold in
the world. Children are sometimes reluctant to share their
feelings or anxieties with their parents because they do not
think that their parents could possibly understand their problems
or pressures. I suggest you try. After all, parents
were your age once! They too have encountered the same
awkward moments in life, the same problems, the same anxieties
and the same uncertainties. So learn to confide in them.
In one of your DGS magazines, I came across this quote by the
noted American novelist and humanitarian Pearl S Buck: "The
young know not enough to be prudent and therefore they attempt
the impossible - and achieve it, generation after
generation." Looking around this hall, reading about
all that you have already achieved, 1 have no doubt that the
girls of DGS will prove Pearl Buck right yet again.
I
thank you all for allowing me to share your special day. I
congratulate all the graduates and prize winners and I wish you
every happiness and success in all that you do. The
education you have received here at DGS has given you a priceless
start to life. Make the most of it and strive to make Hong
Kong a better place for yourself, your loved ones and for the
community at large. May God bless you and be with you
always.
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